Republican Presidential Candidates Announce a Bold New Plan for American Women: Do-it-Yourself Abortion
Any casual watcher of last night's Republican debate may have come away thinking that women don't have much at stake in this election. After all, of the questions CNN chose, less than a third were even from women. (Sadly even in cutting edge political forums, like The Daily Show, that's typical. In the last year, of the 140 guests of the Jon Stewart Show 13 have been women of which only 4 were not actresses.) The Democrats have Hillary as a candidate this year, which puts women front and center. For the Republicans, though, it's pretty much a choice between graying, gray or bald white men, all of whom seemed to nod in agreement on one breathtaking policy initiative for women that surfaced in last night's debate: the DIY abortion.
The question from the "young lady" was: If abortion is outlawed then who is the criminal, woman, doctor, or both? This has always been the sticky question for the anti-abortion side. Do they intend to start locking up women for murder? Fascinatingly, Fred Thompson, National Right to Life's endorsed candidate, said no. He suggested that some people will be able to perform abortions at any stage of pregnancy with no fear of prosecution: women on themselves. Thompson explained his (and one would figure, National Right to Life's,) bold new plan that would kick in once Roe is overturned: "The question is who get penalized and what should be the penalty. I think it should be fashioned along the same lines it is now. Most states have abortion laws that outlaw abortion after viability and it [the criminal penalty] goes to the doctor performing the abortion not the girl, the young girl, her parents, or whoever it might be. I think that same pattern needs to be followed." So, under this plan, a woman is free to perform abortions on herself, possibly with the help of her parents or "whoever it might be" as long as a physician or healthcare provider who is actually skilled to provide safe abortion care isn't involved. The last time the United States banned abortion -- pre-Roe -- doctors faced only minimal penalties for providing safe care. Apparently Thompson, and every GOP candidate except Giuliani appeared to agree, that was a mistake. The crime of abortion, if (and apparently only if) performed by a doctor, will be murder and extreme penalties will apply. Of course, the details will have to be worked out. Electric chair or lethal injection, that's still up for grabs. But it seems clear that the environment post-Roe will be harsher than pre-Roe. The clandestine network of safe abortion services that sprung up last time might not emerge this time. The risk for physicians would be too great. And so women who can't reach safe care will be much more likely than women before Roe to take matters into their own hands, which apparently the Republicans don't mind.
During last night's debate, there were some anti-abortion ideas dismissed as too preposterous. Will there be a "federal abortion police" force? Candidate Ron Paul seemed to think that would be too difficult. But it's not been too difficult for other "pro-life" wonderlands and so it's probably not exactly off the table as a possibility. In El Salvador, for example, they do use police. Actually they're called "Forensic Gynecologists," and they investigate possible crime scenes (aka: women's bodies) after a miscarriage because, of course, once abortion is illegal every miscarriage is suspect. The immediate past AG of Kansas, Phil Kline, attempted some version of this; seizing abortion patients records in an attempt to find misdeeds on the part of the physician. Given the pro-life movement's attempts to conflate abortion and contraception, with the cooperation of "pro-life" politicians, it's any wonder the scope the GOP has in mind. While Governor of Massachusetts, a bill that would have made emergency contraception (EC) more widely available came to Romney's desk. He vetoed it because, he believes, EC is an "abortive" drug. So, would Romney propose that doctors who dispense EC face the same criminal penalties as those providing what is traditionally known as abortion?
In 2005, Geraldo Flores was a boyfriend of a desperate pregnant teen. Flores' girlfriend, believing she was unable to get a legal abortion in her state of Texas, asked him to strike her in the belly and cause a miscarriage. He did, and succeeded. He's now serving life in prison for doing it. Under the GOP plan, he would have to be a doctor to do that kind of time.
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Our government is specific in forbidding any RELIGION to dictate law in this country. It's the key to remaining a democracy and not becoming a theocracy. If religious doctrine controls our legal rights, then one day, women may be legally beaten for showing an ankle in public here, too. All that is needed for that to happen: a predominant muslim population. Don't think it can happen? Ever heard of Louis Farrakhan? Muhammed Ali?
So when you try to force your religious beliefs onto women in the form of anti-abortion rhetoric made into law, remember that one day, YOU may be the one being hunted down for not "believing".
I've seen birth, and until the first breath, there is no life, only inanimate tissue. I've seen death, and life ends WITH THE BREATH and the tissue rots. That's MY belief. Force me to live by someone else's religious doctrine on this and we're back to the Middle Ages: Punishment in the name of God. It may be YOUR god today, but WHOSE god will it be tomorrow?
As a former clinic director, lobbyist re abortion, I posted my comments and can't seem to find them! Jeri Rasmussen
As a supporter and lobbyist re abortion and ultimately a clinic director my question is when will the antis get over it. It took a long time for acceptance of contraception and I can tell you without exception when a woman is desparate to end a pregnancy she is going to do it. If she has financial capability she will have her abortion - legally or otherwise. Lacking financial capability she will resort to methods that may take her life and believe me the anti's will insist she deserves to die.The United States constitution, our constitution protects religious liberty, my church, the United Methodist Church, supports the right of women to be and that right is to control her own fertility. It is 30 years post Roe and this struggle feels more and more like the struggle for equality for blacks. If you don't approve of abortion - don't have one or cause the need for one. Women will determine their own destiny not some cleric or some elected official. Women are never going back to the good old bad days when they could suffer and die in an alley someplace as they tried to control their fertility and lives and silently bled to death. Never Again.
Do the right to lifers also,feed the third world but, not offer contraceptives? The catholic religion don't believe in Birth control. but, the food supplements they pass out make people healthy and, able to have more children. i'm not saying forced i'm saying at least offer it.
REPUBLICANS HAVE A BOLD NEW PLAN ABOUT ABORTION??? YOU MEAN THEY ARE GOING BACK A FEW DECADES WHEN THAT WAS THE MOST POPULAR TYPE...COAT HANGERS OR OTHER SHARP OBJECTS...UNLESS YOU WENT TO A WOMAN BUTCHER.. MORE WOMEN/MMOMS DIED AT THAT TIME FROM SELF INFLICTED ABORTIONS OR TAKING "PILLS" THAN NOW...WOULDN'T IT BE SAFER TO HAVE ABORTIONS AVAILABLE?? AT LEAST THERE WOULD BE LESS DEATHS AND FEWER UNWANTED BABIES THAT SUFFER FROM DISFUNCTINAL HOMES OR ARE "NEVER ADOPTED BY THESE HOLIER THAN THOUGH PEOPLE" WHO BAN ABORTION...
Hmmmm.... human population took until the beginning of humankind until 1840 to reach the first billion. We reached the second billion about 1935. We doubled that to 4 billion in 1976 and hit 6 billion in 2000. Can anyone see a pattern here?
No wonder the earth is gasping.
I'm not saying abortion is a cure for this, but the Right to Lifers should be looking more at keeping the current population in check that burdening the earth with more parasites.
I'm an old woman and I am tired of women having to fight to control their own bodies. If you don't have the right to control your own body and decide what is best for you, than you are not free. If men were the ones to get pregnant, then abortion would be FREE and LEGAL. It still stems from the double standard where men can sow their wild oats and woman wear a scarlet A around their necks. It takes two to get pregnant. Why do you anti-choice people want to punish only one? If you are anti-abortions, then don't get one. Stay out of my life and my face. Keep your god and religion out of my life. Oh and by the way if you are anti-abortion than you must be against the death penalty and against war because a life is a life isn't it??? I assume you gladly adopt lots of unwanted kids because you are so concerned with life. What hypocrites!
Christina Page wrote, "For the Republicans, though, it's pretty much a choice between graying, gray or bald white men"
The vast majority of Americans judge political candidates based on their values and competency for the job. Most would NOT consider it intelligent to focus on the candidates skin color, genitalia, hair color, or lack thereof.
To the extent that Page's attitude (as revealed by the "bald white men" comment) is associated with the Democratic party, it's a heavy drag on that party's efforts.
Stuart's "Random Thoughts" blog
The obsession with abortion, with what Judie Brown of the American Life League calls, "personalizing the egg", borders on the obscene. While supporting policies that rip food, shelter, health care, and subsistence from children already born, so-called 'pro life' politicians fulminate over 'innocent' embryos. There is something really scary about people who love non-viable life more than kids and women who are here - the ones that really feel pain, fear, loss, and desperation. The most powerfully moral nun I know insists that if you claim to be pro-life, start with making life after birth important. Begin with a socially, economically, and politically just world, and maybe you won't ever have to worry about abortions again.
The State's Rights areguement is just bogus, made by people who think they might have enough votes to outlaw abortion in their state.
Personally I'd like one National Referendum which ONLY women could vote on, to settle abortion issue for all time.
Want to bet 60-75% of women would vote for CHOICE? Even women I know with religious views which preach against abortion, rarely want to make their decision for another woman.
I am so tired of hearing male opinions on this matter. As far as I am concerned, they can make law regarding abortion once each man grows his own uterus.
Until then, women should be at liberty to proceed as they see fit with no repercussions for themselves or those who aid them in their time of need. Abortion should be legal for at least the first 3 to 5 months of gestation.
Fred Thompson is so out of touch with reality. Since he advocates women performing abortions on themselves I wonder if he has money invested in wire coat hanger companies. What a putz.
Illegal abortions, where does it stop? Suppose a woman makes an appointment for an abortion with a physician. This would be a conspiracy to commit murder and anyone involved or knowing about this would be considered part of the conspiracy. Anyone else who knew about it would be prosecuted for not reporting a crime to be committed or some other charge. Now, we have a legal system that is barely capable of providing criminal justice for the living and to increase criminal justice to include the unborn and the conspirator's involved is ridiculous. Now abortion is not a recent creation and when the Constitution was drafted their were no provision's for unborn right. To carry the logical progression for conspiracy to abort would necessarily mean that women would have to be tested for pregnancy before and returning from traveling abroad and wire coat hangers have to be licensed thereby creating a black market for them........on,on,on and on.
There is more than a little selfish self-interest at work in the abortion flip-flops of these candidates.
When young and thinking about accidental pregnancies they may be a participant in, they're pro-abortion.
When they get old and that possibility of involvement becomes more remote, they become anti-abortion.
Their hypocrisy disgusts me.
Stop using the term "pro-life." Don't let them set the terminology.
They are "anti-choice" or "anti-abortion."
We have the brains. We control the language.
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